Czech National Park Guide Fined 10,000 CZK for Unextinguished Fire with Children

In the Bohemian Switzerland National Park of the Czech Republic, a guide led a group of children to light a fire in a cave beneath the Pravčická brána near Hřensko. The fire was left smoldering as the party left, despite the park being under the highest fire‑risk alert.

Park rangers, accompanied by local police, arrived to find the glowing embers and immediately doused the flames with water. They called firefighters from Hřensko, who supplied additional water to ensure the fire was fully extinguished. A park‑operated drone equipped with a thermal camera surveyed the surrounding area to confirm no further hotspots. The guide was apprehended and issued a fine of 10,000 Czech crowns, the maximum on‑site penalty for such an offence.

The incident recalls the 2019 Malinový Důl blaze in the same region, which burned over 1,000 hectares, forced the evacuation of more than 500 residents and caused damage estimated at 270 million CZK.